Safety switch point protecting means



March 30',

T o. BUSSLER,

SAFETY SWITCH POINT PROTECTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F116;: Sept. 14, 1942 i ssw/r i Manh 1943 1'. o BussLER 2,315,243

SAFETY SWITCH POINT PROTECTING MEANS Filed Sept. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F rr-- J J-- r I?- E 7 w 4 Homes 0; 5065/94 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 SAFETY SWITCH POINT PROTECTING MEAN Thomas 0. Bussler, Wheelersburg, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Clifford Bold and one-third to Burty M. Durr, both of Wheelersburg, Ohio Application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,248

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in railway protecting means, and more particularly to switch point protecting means designed to prevent sabotage.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch lock adapted to secure a switch point to a stock rail in such manner that the point can only be moved to open position by an authorized person.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple, inexpensive construction which can be made in the ordinary railway shop.

A further object is to provide switch point locking means that is adjustable to accommodate various conditions found in railway systems, and also adjustable to prevent rattling and to take up wear.

Another object is to furnish such a locking means which, when in locked position, will make the switch point and stock rail a unitary structure, so that the switch point is forced to move laterally with the stock rail, should the latter move transversely of the road bed.

Another object is to provide locking means which, when in open position, will not interfere in making a running switch by use of the ordinary switch operating means,

A still further object is to produce a device of this character consisting of a few simple parts which may be readily secured to a stock rail and switch point to carry out the purpose for which it is intended.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail. illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a railway switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l, but showing the switch lock arranged further away from the point with which it cooperates.

Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing the lock in open position.

Fig. 4. is a top plan view of the locking means and portions of a switch point and stock rail.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein corresponding characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 denotes a railway track having a siding 6 and a pair of pivoted switch points I and 8, the free ends of which are connected by a transversely shiftable bar 9 controlled by any conventional switch operating means I0.

In accordance with my invention, a bracket I i is connected to the flange of either one of the switch points by means of riveting or welding, as indicated at I2, so as to prevent the connection from being disturbed by unauthorized persons. The bracket comprises a bifurcated leg l3 which extends below the flange of the point and is piv otally connected at [4 to one end of a horizontally disposed link 15; the pivotal connection being such as to prevent disconnection of the parts.

Link It: extends beneath the switch point and the stock rail l6, and passes through a vertical slot I! in the leg i8 of an angular bracket l9. Such bracket, like the bracket 1 l, is permanently secured by means of riveting or welding, as indicated at [9a, to a flange 20 of the stock rail. At this point it will be noted that the bracket l9 has a lip 22 projecting away from the flange 20 for a purpose hereinafter described. A fork 23 straddles the opposite end of the link 15 and is pivot-ally secured thereto, as indicated at 24, so as to prevent the fork and link from being disconnected.

A threaded shank 25 is rigidly connected with the root end of the fork and has threaded engagement with a bifurcated member 26, the threads being of slight pitch to allow the parts to be adjusted to a fine degree. After any adjustment, a lock nut 21 on the shank may be jammed against the member 26 to fixedly secure the parts in position. Pivotally supported between the tines 28 of the member 26 is a latch lever 29 having a hook 30 at one end for locking engagement with the lug or lip 22. Above the member 25, the member 29 extends outwardly toward the fork 23 and terminates in a loop 3| which may be used as a handle or which will receive the top of the operators foot for operating purposes.

The member 25 is adapted to abut against the edge of the lip 22, and is provided with a threaded hole to receive the threaded shank 32 of an eye 33 which, of course, may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly toward the part 26. A look nut 34 on the shank serves to lock the eye in any position of adjustment. A slot 35 (Fig. 4), in the la ch lever 29 receives the eye 33, so as to allow auxiliary locking means, such as a padlock 36, to be connected to the eye for the purpose of securing the latch lever in switch point locking position.

It will be noted that the latch lever has a nose 3'! which projects forwardly substantially parallel with the hook 39. Such nose, during an unlocking operation, bears on the lip 22, and acts as a cam to loosen the member 26 to cause the forked end of the latter to move upwardly out of abutting relation with the lip 22 when the end of the lever 3| is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. Such nose, during a locking operation, will strike on the lip 22 and function as a cam to throw the hook 30 beneath the lip.

To take care of wear or unequal thicknessin the depth of the lip 22, the latch lever 29 is provided with a threaded aperture for threaded engagement with an impingement screw 38 which passes through the lever and impinges against the member 26. A lock nut 39 on the screw holds the latter in various positions of adjustment. Obviously, if the screw is turned to cause the lever 29 to raise too high, this would interfere with the passing of the hasp of the padlock through the eye 33, and that is the reason why the latter is made adjustable. The means to permit relative adjustment between the parts 23 and 26 allows the device to be placed in various positions relatively to the switch point and an edge of the stock rail flange.

In Fig. 2, the device is shown in locked position, and at such time, it cannot be disturbed except by someone having a key to the padlock. If the padlock is removed, the end 3| of the latch lever can be swung upwardly, and this will cause the hook SUto be disengaged from the lip 22. Then the parts 26 and 23 can be turned in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 24, into the position shown in Fig. 3. When in this position, the switch point can be shifted rapidly without, interference by the locking means, and at such times, the device will not interfere in making a running switch. Obviously, when the parts are to be returned to lockingeposition, the parts 23, 26, are swung in a counterclockwise direction about the. pivot 24, until the nose 3'! strikes the lip 22, at which time it will serve as a cam to move the hook 30 and lever 29 into the position shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be clear to those skilled in theart that mydevice will prevent unauthorized opening of the switch, and will therefore act as a safety. device to save passengers and railway employees from injury or death. It will also be observed that it does not include any springs to get out of order, or parts which could be loosened to render it inoperative. Moreover, the leverage and cam actions are such in my device as to prevent interference by snow or freezing weather, and besides, if the switch operating means should break, my lock will prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail with which it is associated. It will be observed further that the construction of the device is such that no parts project upwardly to such an extent that they could be caught by a passing car, and in addition, the hook 30 and padlock will insure double security. When the parts are locked, the point must move with the stock rail, and'therefore, if the latter should shift outwardly, the point would have to move with it, and this would prevent spreading between the point and stock rail, such as has caused wrecks in the past.

Those familiar with such devices know that the switch point is sometimes hooked up with disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

rail, comprising a bracket permanently united with the stock rail, a link permanently secured to the switch point and extending through an opening in said bracket, a structure movably and permanently connected to the extending portion of the link and including an arm adapted to project toward said stock rail and abut against said bracket to prevent movement of the switch point away from the stock rail, a latch lever pivotally and permanently connected to the end portion of said arm and adapted to interlock with said bracket, and auxiliary locking means for sea curing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to unlocking position.

2. Means for locking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising a bracket permanently united with the stock rail, a link permanently secured to the switch point and extending through and guided by the stock rail bracket, a structure movably and permanently connected to the extending portion of the link and including a memher and an arm having a threaded connection with said member to permit adjustment of the arm toward and away from said member, said arm being adapted to project toward said stock rail and abut against said bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail, a latch lever pivotally and permanently connected to the end portion of said arm and adapted to interlock with said bracket, and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to unlocking position, said member and said arm being so joined by said threaded connection as to prevent adjustment of the arm when the latch lever is in locked position, I

3. Means for locking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising brackets rigidly united with the switch point and stock rail respectively, a link secured to one of said brackets, extending beneath the switch point and stock rail and guided by the other bracket, the last mentioned bracket being of angular shape and having an overhanging lip, a structure movably connected to the link and including a member extending toward the stock rail, a latch lever member movably connected to said structure and having a portion adapted to extend beneath and lockably engage said lip, one of said members being adapted to abut against the last mentioned bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to unlocking position.

4. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising brackets rigidly united with the switch point and stock rail respectively, a link secured at one end to one of said brackets, ex-

, tending beneath the switch point and stock rail,

and guided by the other bracket, a structure movably'connected to the other end of the link and having an arm member extending toward the last mentioned bracket, a latch lever member pivotally connected to the end of saidarm member and adapted to lockably engage the last mentioned bracket, one of said members being adapted to abut against the last mentioned bracket, to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to a position out of engagement with the last mentioned bracket.

5. Means for looking a switch point .to a stock rail, comprising brackets rigidly united with the switch point and stock rail respectively, a link secured at one end to one of said brackets, extending beneath the switch point and stock rail, and guided by the other bracket, a substantially anguiar structure movably connected to the other end of the link and having an arm member extending toward the last mentioned bracket and adapted to overhang a portion of that bracket, a latch lever member movably connected to said arm member and having a hook adapted to extend beneath a portion of the last mentioned bracket for lockably securing said structure to the last mentioned bracket, one of said members being adapted to abut against the last mentioned bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to a position where it would prevent the hook from interlocking with the last mentioned bracket.

6. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising brackets permanently united with the switch point and stock rail respectively, a link permanently secured to one of said brackcts, extending beneath the switch point and stock rail, and guided by the other bracket, a structure pivotally connected to the other end of the link, said structure including a part and a member connected together by a threaded connection permitting the member to be adjusted relatively to said part, a latch lever member movably connected to the adjustable member of said structure and adapted to lockably engage the last mentioned bracket, one of said members being adapted to abut the last mentioned bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever member to normally prevent it from moving to switch point unlocking position, said latch lever member and auxiliary locking means preventing said member of said structure from being adjusted when the latch lever is in locked position.

'7. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising brackets permanently united with the switch point and stock rail respectively,

a link secured at one end to one of said brackets,

extending beneath the switch point and stock rail, and guided by the other bracket, the last mentioned bracket having an over-hanging lip, a structure movably connected to the other end of the link and having a portion projecting toward the last mentioned bracket and overlying said lip for limiting downward movement of said portion relatively to the lip, said structure having a portion adapted to abut against the last mentioned bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail, a latch lever movably connected to said structure and having a hook adapted to lockably engage the bottom of said lip, and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to switch point unlocking position.

8. Means for locking a switch point and stock rail as claimed in claim '7, in which said structure comprises two parts, one of said parts normally extending upwardly from the link and provided with a threaded shank arranged at an angle thereto, the other part supporting the latch lever and having threaded engagement with said shank to allow the last mentioned part to be adjusted toward and away from said lip.

9. Means for locking a switch point to a stock rail as claimed in claim '7, in which adjustable means is provided to limit the movement of the latch lever in one direction toward said structure.

10. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail as claimed in claim 7, in which the last mentioned means comprises an eye adjustably connected to said structure and adapted to pass through a slot in said lever, and a locking device engageable with said eye.

11. Means for locking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising a first bracket permanently secured to the switch point, a second bracket permanently secured to the stock rail and provided with a guide slot and an overhanging lip, a link movably connected at one end to said first bracket and passing through the slot of the second bracket, a substantially angular structure pivotally secured to the other end of the link and having an arm projecting toward and adapted to rest on said lip, said arm being adapted to abut the second bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail, a latch lever movably connected to said arm and having a hook adapted to interlock with the bottom of said lip, and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to switch unlocking position.

12. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising a first bracket permanently secured to the switch point, a second bracket permanently secured to the stock rail and provided with a guide slot and an overhanging lip, a link movably connected at one end to said first bracket and passing through the slot of the second bracket, a substantially angular structure pivotally secured to the other end of the link and having an arm projecting toward and adapted to rest on said lip, said arm being adapted to abut the second bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail, a latch lever movably connected to said arm and having a hook adapted to interlock with the bottom of said lip, a cam nose projecting from the lever and cooperating with the lip for swinging said structure in one direction, and for throwing the hook beneath the lip, and auxiliary locking means for securing the latch lever to normally prevent it from moving to switch unlocking position.

13. Means for looking a switch point to a stock rail, comprising a first bracket secured to the switch point and having a downwardly extending fork-shaped part, a second bracket rigidly united with the stock rail and provided with an overhanging lip and a guide slot below the lip, a link having one of its ends pivotally secured to the fork-shaped part of the first bracket, said link extending beneath the switch point and stock rail, and also through said slot, a substantially angular structure having a lower end pivotally connected to the other end of the link, said structure having an arm extending toward the second bracket and adapted to overlie said lip, said arm being adapted to abut against the second bracket to prevent the switch point from moving away from the stock rail, a latch lever pivotally connected to said arm and provided with a hook adapted to interlock with the bottom of said lip, and means for lockably securing the latch lever to the arm to prevent the latch lever from moving to switch point unlocking position.

THOMAS O. BUSSLER, 

